Social commentator, marketing executive, and author Khaya Dlanga surprised us with his latest book, Life is Like That Sometimes. I say “us” as a bold assumption that there’s more than just me who admires Khaya’s work and has enjoyed his best-selling books To Quote Myself and These Things Really Do Happen to Me.

I was first introduced to Khaya through his TV appearances alongside celebrities like Anele Mdoda, Sizwe Dhlomo, and Trevor Noah. Back then, I knew little about him beyond his famous friends. Later, I discovered that he was an accomplished author with five books to his name, two of which became bestsellers.

Intrigued by the mystery surrounding Khaya, I picked up To Quote Myself, the first of his books I owned. I hadn’t read many reviews or heard much about his writing, but something drew me to that title. I remember vividly asking myself, “Who is this guy, and what has he said that he’s naming his book ‘to quote myself’?”

As I read the book, my appreciation for Khaya deepened—not just as a talented writer, but as a regular South African who believed that his stories were worth sharing. He does so with grace, humor, and a relatability that’s hard to resist. This is the book that made me wish more of us, no matter how unknown, shared our stories—not necessarily to be bestsellers, but to foster community through shared experiences.

Khaya’s humor and relatable content made the book a page-turner. Chapters like “The Funeral,” “My Nine Years of Celibacy (and My Stories About Prostitutes),” and “The Suitcase That Demanded to Be Found” had me laughing out loud. As the young ones say, “You can’t make this stuff up!”

But there’s more to his work than just laughs. Khaya tackles the complex and painful realities of being young and Black in South Africa. His reflections on exclusion at higher learning institutions and the dehumanizing struggles of moving from townships or rural areas to cities are thoughtful and impactful. 

One quote that struck me was:

“The biggest challenge for black students who come from poor backgrounds and go to institutions of higher learning is not that they struggle because they are dumb. Rather, they struggle because the system is too dumb to understand their plight.” 

His second book, These Things Really Do Happen to Me, feels like listening to a close friend recount a series of unbelievable but hilarious stories. Chapters like “When I Fell Asleep Next to Thabo Mbeki,” “When I Introduced Paul Kagame as the President of Nigeria—To His Face,” and “Talking About Race Is Not Controversial” showcase Khaya’s ability to blend humor, vulnerability, and honesty. 

I haven’t read his latest book yet, but I’m excited to dive into it. In an Instagram post, Khaya described it as exploring themes like being raised by his grandparents in rural Eastern Cape, his mother’s youth, his brother’s gambling addiction and suicide, his mother’s passing, and the journey through therapy.

“Life, as messy and unpredictable as it is, has a way of weaving beauty and meaning into even the hardest moments. And perhaps, as you read, you’ll find a piece of your own story within these pages.”

If you haven’t yet experienced Khaya Dlanga’s writing, I highly recommend picking up one of his books. His work is a reminder that our stories—however personal—can resonate and connect us all.